Part Four - Jack Nicholson

Part IV - Jack Nicholson

The consummate actor's actor, Jack Nicholson has created memorable characters, sometimes out of nothing at all. He has played cops, colonels, criminals, jokers and an obsessive compulsive, anti-social curmudgeon who brings out the soft spot in anyone who sees him. Often imitated (Christian Slater) but never duplicated, he is the original cinematic bad boy. Devious grin from ear to ear, and the Devil's eyes he has a truly unique look. His smile is infectious and capable of disarming even the most guarded viewer. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but everyone is captivated by Jack.

A career spanning 53 years and counting, he has aged gracefully, winning an Oscar in the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's. He should have won one in the 2000's, but that is another story for further down this article. Among the films not mentioned here are Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Last Detail, Terms of Endearment, Witches of Eastwick, Batman, A Few Good Men, and About Schmidt. To have 5 stellar performances on top of those is an achievement in itself. Let's take a closer look at the man who makes stargazing at Lakers games a sport in itself.

Chinatown (1974)

Having already established himself as a viable actors in such films as Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, the Last Detail and a slew of other television appearances and smaller films dating back to 1956, Jack took the lead role as Detective Jake Gittes in controversial director Roman Polanski's sleazy political drama.

Gittes is enlisted to investigate a simple case of suspected adultery, and what follows is a rabbit-hole of a conspiracy that ends with a shocking and unexpected climax. Darkly mysterious, Nicholson lends a swagger to a hip 30's era film that inspired the more recent LA Confidential, which is a great film in its own right.

Already having secured 3 Oscar nominations, he had a voice and an attitude that was completely original and compelling and would later break through genres and leave a lasting impression on the film industry forever. Not necessarily the handsome leading man that audiences were used to, he seduced us with his charm first and foremost, and his hair-trigger temper second. So emotional and explosive, he can take any part and animate it better than any other actor, with Al Pacino a close second.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

My favorite performance of Nicholson's vast array of roles. Randle McMurphy is a clever social deviant who avoids hard time by pretending he is insane at his trial, and he is thrown in the loony bin. It is fitting, as the mid-1970's was a very pivotal time for psychotherapy and developments in both medication administration and behavioral modification.

As he stirs up his fellow inmates, we realize that they are not crazy at all, they are just mistreated and misunderstood. He is the only one who realizes this, and there is a strong bond between the eccentric characters that forms as he finds that a mental hospital is not quite the vacation that he thought it would be. The evil Nurse Ratched runs the ward with an iron fist and a silver tongue. One of the more subtly sinister characters in film, she complements Nicholson's happy-go-lucky McMurphy and their struggle between order and chaos is a great subplot filled with tension.

What makes Nicholson so great in this film is that he is thrust into an environment that is so contrary to everything his character believes and knows. He adapts beautifully and makes a selfless change at the end that is both tragic and beautiful. It is truly a wonderful performance that encapsulates Nicholson in his younger days.

Nicholson wins his first Oscar in his fifth nomination for Randle McMurphy, and the film picked up another 4 awards including picture, director, actress and writing. Definitely a must see, again and again.

The Shining (1980)

Perhaps Stephen King's best film adaptation to date, there is nothing particularly remarkable about the story - family moves to a haunted ski resort to work as caretakers, and the expanse of empty space and solitude drives Nicholson's Jack Torrance's sanity to slowly unravel. Who can forget him breaking through the bathroom door that his wife is hiding behind and shouting "Here's Johnny!" He plays crazy brilliantly, and that is the mark of an exceptional talent.

This film holds a creepy place within the genre. Not gruesome enough to be horror, and not unrealistic enough to be true fiction. It is a psychological character study among the three family members, with a little Steven King twist thrown in the mix. Nicholson is haunting and chilling. I only wish he had done more good horror films.

As Good as it Gets (1997)

This surprise hit by James Brooks sparks chemistry with Helen Hunt as Nicholson is the older and neurotic anti-social bigot who has a heart of gold. Despite decades of age difference, the two are exactly what each other needs at that time in their character's lives. Two lonely and struggling souls that emote their wildly opposite plights.

The moral of the story is two-fold - no man is an island, and no matter how despondent you are, it can get better. This film marks Nicholson's third Oscar win as an actor, which ties him with Walter Brennan for most ever by an actor. Brennan won three supporting actor Oscars and Nicholson two best actor and one supporting actor. Interesting bit of trivia - there is controversy surrounding Brennan's wins in 1937, 1939 and 1941 - actors voted for the award, and since he was a popular extra during the time with a good reputation, many speculate that he won the awards not because he deserved them, but because he had many friends.

I digress. Nicholson's Melvin Udall is given wonderful lines by Brooks, who wrote and directed and seems to be Nicholson's favorite director to work with as they have collaborated four times resulting in two Oscars for Jack. They are also currently working on a project that has an outstanding cast attached - due out 2010.

The Departed (2006)

If you were to tell me that Little Miss Sunshine's Alan Arkin would win Best Supporting Oscar in 2006 and Nicholson wouldn't even be nominated for his performance in The Departed, I would tell you to go fly a kite (had to use that one for the kids). Easily the best film of the decade (maybe not easily, but edges out No Country for Old Men, Brokeback Mountain and Gladiator), and Scorsese's crowning achievement, Nicholson was the anchor that added the kick that it needed to go from great to spectacular. Basically, it is a fast-paced and chilling drama about an undercover cop and undercover criminal trying to uncover each other before being discovered. Try saying that last sentence 5 times fast.

A remake of a 2002 Chinese film titled Infernal Affairs, the American version has more grit, and Nicholson's crime boss Frank Costello puts real fear and tension into the mix. In spite of DiCaprio, Damon, Sheen, Wahlberg, Winstone and Baldwin, Nicholson rose like the cream to punctuate the film's excellence.

There are multiple instances where he was clearly given the liberty to improvise his dialogue, and the words that came out, although not always remarkable, were memorable because of how he said them, and the passion that came out of the character. That is the mark of a great actor.

It looked like Jack was having fun the whole way, and there is a larger than life presence that seems to grow with each role he takes. Although slowing down with age, he is not fading out of the spotlight like so many, nor is he wavering in his commitment to giving great performances as he has for years. He should have been nominated, and won an Oscar for this particular role.

Jack Nicholson won 3 Oscars out of 12 nominations between 1970 and 2003. He has won 7 Golden Globes in 17 nominations from 1970 - 2006 including 1 lifetime achievement award.